Category Archives: Politics

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
UNITED States military assistance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is limited to technical assistance, information sharing and training while PH-US military alliance remains solid and robust,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.
Abella issued the statement after the People’s Palace (Malacañang) on Tuesday said any direct participation in combat operations by US troops, including airstrikes, is prohibited under the Philippine Constitution and the mutual defense treaty between the two countries.

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
THE Philippine government on Friday assured the security of local and foreign delegates and media practitioners covering the 50th ASEAN foreign ministers meeting and related meetings from Aug. 2-8, 2017 in Manila.
Concerns about the security of those attending the event have been raised following reports that members of terrorist groups are now in Metro Manila, especially as military operations against ISIS-connected Maute Group continues in Marawi City in Mindanao.

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
THE impeachment case filed against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is now at the House of Representatives and the People’s Palace (Malacañang) on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte respects the separation of powers of the three branches of government.
At a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag assured that Duterte would not meddle in the impeachment case as he respects the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court of the Philippines, or any other co-equal branch of government for that matter.
“The President was always clear about saying that if and when the House of Representatives or any other co-equal branch would do so, then that is up to them,” Banaag said.

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte is hoping that justice will finally be served to the 44 Special Action Force (PNP) police commandos who were slain in the Mamasapano massacre, the People’s Palace (Malacañang) said Friday.
“The President recognizes the heroic sacrifice of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force 44, and it is his — and the nation’s — hope to finally bring justice to the victims and families of the Fallen 44 and put closure to the issue as part of the healing process,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.
Abella added that the Palace “respects the Ombudsman’s constitutional mandate to investigate public officials.”
The Palace official made the statements after Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of criminal charges against former President Benigno Aquino III in connection with the January 2015 tragedy.

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has dismissed claims made by the international terror group ISIS that it was behind Friday’s attack in Resorts World Manila in Pasay City, where at least 38 people, including the lone gunman, died.
AFP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, said Saturday claims made by the terror group do not match the known facts of the incident.
“The pronouncements of this group do not corroborate the facts on the ground. As it is, the RW (Resorts World) incident has the signature of a criminal act that needs deeper investigation to ascertain the real motive behind (it),” he added.

By: Oscar Omer Almenario
The Senate adopted a resolution today concurring in the Accession to the Paris Agreement. The agreement seeks to limit the average global temperature to “well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.”
Adopted was Senate Resolution 320. Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on the Paris Agreement under the Committee on Foreign Relations, said the Philippines’ ratification of the agreement would send a strong signal of the country’s continuing commitment to work with the rest of the world in ensuring the survival of mankind.
“Our nation bears the brunt of climate change even if we are among those who contributed the least to the crisis,” Legarda said.

By: Oscar Omer Almenario
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said criminals have no humanity.
The President made the statement during an interview in Cebu City in response to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) which said drug-related killings may be considered crimes against humanity.
“If you kill criminals, it is not a crime against humanity. The criminals have no humanity,” Duterte said after the groundbreaking ceremony for the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway.
He likewise said those who were killed in legitimate government operations were the ones who fought back against law enforcers.

By: Oscar Omer Almenario
FINALLY, an eight-year-old Filipino boy Rexon Romoc, who was kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay in Southern Philippines and held hostage in Sulu for almost seven months, was reunited with his family in Manila Tuesday.
Rexon was flown to Manila and turned him over to his parents Elmer and Nora Romoc after a medical checkup done by Dr. Rose Liquete, chief of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who was on top of our recovery efforts, witnessed the reunion in Malacañang.
It has been a long ordeal. Rexon was kidnapped by armed men together with his parents on August 5, 2016. They were brought to Sulu by their kidnappers.

By: Oscar Omer Almenario
THE House committee on public information, in a move to uphold and strengthen the Filipino people’s right to information, unanimously approved this week the much-awaited Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.
Rep. Antonio Tinio (Party-list, ACT Teachers), committee chairman, presented to the panel a substitute bill, which is a consolidation of 33 measures on the FOI proposal.
Under the unnumbered substitute bill, the public shall be granted “access to official records and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development.”

By: Omer Oscar Almenario
IN lauding the move of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) stopping the Manila Bay reclamation project, Sen. Cynthia Villar said that volunteers scored a victory for the protection of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Eco-Tourism Area (LPPCHEA).
“This is a welcome development to the cause I’m pursuing along with residents of Las Piñas, Parañaque and Cavite, as well as groups in religious, private and environmental sectors. We hope the Manila Bay reclamation project, which experts see as detrimental to the environment and livelihood of 300,000 fishermen, will be permanently shelved,” the woman senator said.

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The Proliferation of Drugs Syndicates at the National Bilibid Prison with Ronnie Palisoc Dayan Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs (November 23, 2016)(November 23, 2016)Sept. 19, 2016House Committee Hearing